Andy returns to the dark side, well almost – 90% Dark Side!

April 26th, 2017

A number of years ago, I backed Apple, and invested in an iPad and iPhone, only to be burned, when Apple abandoned that platform, and left me with bricks which could not be upgraded, stuck on an iOS version with no applications available in the Appstore to support those expensive gadgets!

Fast forward a number of years and Google launched it’s first Android phone in 2012, the Google Nexus 4 – I blogged about it here – Andy’s Google Nexus 4 – that was over four years ago, and decided it was time for a switch to Droid in 2013.

In all those years Droid has served me well, BUT I’ve been experiencing more and more issues in the last 12 months with Droid applications failing to work correctly compared to iOS applications, also iOS application seem to be made available for iPhone and iPad before Droid (e.g. Airline eTicket systems), and also some applications are never developed or supported, e.g. Android Pay still does not support American Express -Do American Express have issues with Android security ?

Considering there are more Android phones in the world, than iPhones, it is indeed odd, that iOS is the preferred platform for some applications, but the Development time is longer, and also Apple verification can take a while, but with latest development kits, e.g. Xamarin – code can be quickly ported for Windows, Android or iOS applications from Microsoft Visual Studio. So this still puzzles me?

One thing I do know, is that Apple controls the hardware, the OS, the applications and therefore may make it a better applicatio  target, like Sun Solaris, Sun manufactured the hardware, and manufactured the OS – a strong platform, also similar to IBM, and AIX, developed specifically for IBM computers.

An opportunity arose to purchase a new phone, I could have purchased a new Google Pixel or Samsung something, but the costs are similar to an Apple iPhone, but the quality of Apple products are far superior in my opinion, and Google and Samsung products are overpriced, but believe because people will purchase Apple products at x GBP, they can also charge x GBP for their products.

So I decided:- to Return to the Dark Side, almost! I’m about “90% Dark Side” – I’ve opted for a Jet Black 256GB iPhone 7 .

But still using the Google ecosystem, e.g. Google+, GMail, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Photos, not that horrible iCloud thing!

Jet Black 256GB iPhone 7 & Decoded Case

Jet Black 256GB iPhone 7 & Decoded Case

Jet Black iPhone 7

Jet Black iPhone 7

Jet Black iPhone 7

Jet Black iPhone 7

So we will see how long this lasts me, before I change back, come back in four years, and read the blog to find out, I could have decided to get a Blackberry or Nokia Windows Phone!

This was one of the major reasons, I change airtime companies, see Goodbye Orange @EE, and hello @ThreeUK! #makeitright

Oh, and the iPhone 7 – I’ve had it 4 weeks now, and It’s @#!”£$%^& Brilliant!!!!

New Welsh Slate Roof – All done.

April 25th, 2017

The scaffolding was taken down early this Bank Holiday Monday, and these are the final pictures of the new roof.

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So finally after 12 months, of obtaining many quotations, discussing options with builders and roofing companies. The roof is finally complete, and I no longer have to check and empty buckets in the attic, and that long overdue project is complete and finally put to bed.

A Special Thanks to Mark Winters of Mark Winters Leadwork and Roofing, York, Denis and Luke for an excellent job, and professional craftsmanship.

Here is a case study by TLX Insulation of work completed by Mark Winters Leadwork and Roofing, York.

Also Thanks to:-

Three Thingian Gamesody

April 24th, 2017

For those not in the know, Three Thing Game is a programming Game Jam run over (approximately)
24 hours. Teams of enthusiasts (that’s you people, as well as me and my ‘kind’) gather to challenge
themselves to create a game based on 3 random words that they will be given. At the end of the 24
hours you get to subject your game to a thorough Judging against various criteria like: adherence to
the Things, how complete is your game, and how much money you slip the judge discreetly.

Source
https://canvas.hull.ac.uk/files/633091/download?verifier=6BMKkgTJWXDbjiVnZZ4hLr0zgshZHtXoZFdFWVTY

Electric Cobalt Blue Victorian Garden Bell Cloches

April 22nd, 2017

I’ve got a bit of a “magpie thing” for blue glass, that’s used in the old medicine bottles….

So when I saw these electric cobalt blue victorian garden bell cloches – I just had to snag them!

andys-blue-cloche1

andys-blue-cloche2

I’ve never seen blue versions before, but I have seen clear glass versions. I’m going to use them to protect my pumpkin seedlings from frost. It will be interesting to see how blue light affects the plant growth.

What is TLX Gold ? @TLX_Insulation @SIGRoofing

April 16th, 2017

A number of people keep asking me what is TLX Gold?

NOTHING’S THE SAME AS TLX GOLD

NOTHING’S THE SAME AS TLX GOLD

TLX Gold is a BBA certified 2 in 1 Insulating Breather Roofing Membrane, manufactured by TLX insulation which we used with our recent re-roof.

off-cut of TLX Gold

off-cut of TLX Gold

New Welsh Slate Roof – Roof Complete – Day 7

April 13th, 2017

roof-day7-005

A few finishing touches, and the angled-cap-ridges cemented on, and the roof is now complete, the Building Inspector visited and said it was a nice excellent job, and had a tick in the box.

On time, and on budget as agreed just before the Easter Holiday! (well in fact a little less!)

New Welsh Slate Roof – Slating finished – Day 6

April 13th, 2017

roof-day5a-008

I left this morning for work, and the roof needed slating on the back, and when I returned home it was completed.

In discussions with the roofers, they told me, “when they lick them and stick them its quicker!”

Today is the last and final day, whilst they add the angled ridges to the apex, and tidy up.

Goodbye Orange @EE, and hello @ThreeUK! #makeitright

April 12th, 2017

Goodbye Orange, and hello Three!

I’ve been with Orange for over 18 years, but times are changing, and I no longer feel it represents good value for money for me, and looking around at the other airtime mobile carriers, I think Three has all the features and more I need now.

  • Unlimited minutes
  • Unlimited texts
  • 30GB a month data allowance
  • WiFi Calling
  • 4G coverage at home, and at work.
  • Feel at Home destinations in 42 countries.
  • 4G Super Voice

and all this costs me less, than what I’ve been topping on Orange for many years!

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2017-04-10-120012

I’m surprised how easily it was to port my old Orange number to Three, Orange just handed out the PAC code, and I entered it into the My3 application, and within 24 hours, it had been transferred to Three.

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2017-04-12-105020

So if you have my existing mobile number it’s not changed it’s the same!

New Welsh Slate Roof – Re-slating continues – Day 5 (Morning)

April 11th, 2017

At the beginning of Day 5, almost all of the front roof, rows have slates have been completed, and the lead work is being properly installed above the front porch (well it was not lead before!)

roof-day5-004

New Welsh Slate Roof – Re-slating starts – Day 4

April 11th, 2017

roof-day4-003

The welsh slates start have been regraded, into thick, mids and thins, and start being nailed to the battens.

There are approx 2-3 rows completed at the front of the house shown here.